Cubs still have 2020 vision for launching their new TV network but reveal few details on a potential deal

The Cubs on Saturday offered a sneak preview of their new television network while remaining firm in their efforts to transition to mobile ticketing and unseat Ald. Tom Tunney.

After some spirited dialogue with fans during a panel discussion with the team’s business department on Day 2 of the annual Cubs Convention, Crane Kenney said the team wants to have its own network in place for the 2020 season, beginning with televising all home spring training games, and already has started hiring talent.

Kenney, the team’s president of business operations, added that other baseball teams could be involved with the new partner, which he declined to divulge. Sinclair Broadcasting Group has been reported as a potential partner, but “we’re not talking who the partner is,” Kenney said.

Meanwhile, Kenney said the Cubs are involved in “multidimensional negotiations” with their partner and multiple groups, and details could be finalized by the end of the month.

The Cubs want to avoid the carrier-distribution issues and costs that have prevented a large majority of fans in Southern California from watching Dodgers games despite the team’s 25-year, $8.35 billion contract before the 2014 season.

“It hasn’t gotten easy since the Dodgers,” Kenney said.

The broadcast partner will have plenty of input, such as with the construction and configuration of a new press box, which was delayed until after the upcoming season. Kenney added that the Cubs decided to wait in the same manner they did in switching their seating arrangement from aisles to sections — after much of the seating changes had been completed.

Also during the question-and-answer session, several fans voiced displeasure with the transition from paper tickets to their mobile devices.

“The overall theme we heard was this is uncomfortable to some for mobile ticketing,” Kenney said. “We get that.”

But Kenney stressed the need to eliminate ticket fraud as well as improve security around Wrigley Field, pointing to street closures and police dogs around the park as well as increased security.

“Mobile ticketing is much quicker than paper ticketing at the gates,” Kenney said.

A team official added that fraud has dropped significantly since the switch to mobile ticketing two seasons ago.

In addition to the new seating arrangement, team officials said improvements in Wi-Fi and the addition of patio decks for more concession stands and bathrooms in the upper deck will result in less congestion on the lower concourse.

Those improvements should help the Cubs in their bid to land an All-Star Game after 2020, as Kenney stressed that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred prefers a city earn a bid rather than be selected for nostalgic reasons.

“The last time our pitch wasn’t strong enough,” said Kenney, referring to the Dodgers being awarded the 2020 game.

The Cubs also hope to maintain the support of the mayor’s office once Rahm Emanuel’s term expires. “It’s a huge economic driver for this city,” Kenney said.

Kenney also defended the motives of the Ricketts family in supporting opponents of Tunney in the 44th ward — which includes Wrigley Field — stating he used the forum in response to emails asking why they’re opposed to him.

“It seems like we’re always on the other end of the spectrum with this guy,” Kenney said of Tunney. “When we talk about building a park (Gallagher Way), he talks about it being a nightmare. Why are we so far apart? Why can’t we find any common ground with this guy?”

Kenney asked Julian Green, the Cubs vice president of communications and former press secretary for then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, if the Cubs’ mission against Tunney was a right-wing agenda.

“The answer is no,” Green replied while on stage with Kenney. “The question should be why a 16-year incumbent has kept the status quo in order. Why is he focused more on the Cubs versus crime, schools and education?”

The question-and-answer session ended with a fan’s request to keep politics out of the panel.